Multifunctional case for portable electronic device

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/082,546, entitled “MULTIFUNCTIONAL CASE FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE”. Such applications have the same assignee as the present application. The above-identified applications are incorporated herein by reference.

This disclosure relates to cases for portable electronic devices, particularly, to a multifunction case for protecting and supporting portable electronic devices.

On one hand, cases are widely applied to protect portable electronic devices. On another hand, users generally need a holder for supporting the portable electronic device to read an eBook or watch video. However, it can be difficult to carry the case and the holder at the same time. In many cases, the holder can be easily left behind after use.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Many aspects of the multifunctional case can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the multifunctional case.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a multifunctional case, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 , but shown from another aspect.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 , showing the multifunctional case in a state of being folded.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 , showing the multifunctional case folded as a support.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 , showing a portable electronic device supported by the multifunctional case.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 1 , showing the multifunctional case receiving a portable electronic device therein.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of another multifunctional case, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 1 and 5 show an exemplary embodiment of a multifunctional case 100 . The case 100 is selectively used to receive or support an portable electronic device 200 .

Also referring to HG 2 , the case 100 includes a first layer 10 , a second layer 20 and a closing piece 40 . A receiving space 120 is defined between the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 for receiving the portable electronic device 200 . The first layer 10 and the second layer 20 are connected to each other by their edges, leaving an opening 31 that allows the portable electronic device 200 to be inserted into the receiving space 120 . The first and second layers 20 are made of soft material, e.g., fiber, cotton, vinyl, thermoplastics.

The closing piece 40 is flexible and is used to close the opening 31 . The closing piece 40 may extend from the second layer 20 to adjacent to the opening 31 .

A locking member 50 , a main supporting portion 62 , two side supporting portions 64 and two retaining portions 66 are formed on the second layer 20 . The locking member 50 is positioned adjacent to the opening 31 . The locking member 50 includes a head 52 , and a slot 51 formed between the second layer 20 and the head 52 for receiving one end of the portable electronic device 200 .

The portions 61 , 62 , 64 , 66 cover most of the outer surface of the second layer 20 and are separate from each other. The portions 61 , 62 , 64 , 66 are symmetrically positioned relative to a longitudinal center line of the second layer 20 . The base portion 61 is positioned adjacent to the locking member 50 and includes a baseline 610 at one edge thereof. The baseline 610 includes a middle portion 611 and two end portions 612 . The two end portions 612 , 613 are folded toward the locking member 50 . The main supporting portion 62 is rectangular and faces the middle portion 611 of the base portion 61 . The main supporting portion 62 has two side edges 621 and two end edges 622 . The edges 622 are parallel to the middle portion 611 of the baseline 610 .

The two side supporting portions 64 are respectively positioned at two sides of the main supporting portion 62 . Each side supporting portion 64 includes a sloping edge 641 and a bottom edge 642 . The sloping edge 641 is obliquely angled with respect to the bottom edge 642 . An angle θ between the sloping edge 641 and the bottom edge is about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. The bottom edge 642 is adjacent to and parallel to one of the side edges 621 of the main supporting portion 62 .

The retaining portion 66 is positioned between the base portion 61 and the corresponding side supporting portion 64 . Each retaining portion 66 includes a first edge 661 and a second edge 662 . The first edge 661 is adjacent to and parallel to the corresponding end portion 612 of the base portion 61 . The second edge 662 is adjacent to and parallel to the sloping edge 641 of the corresponding side supporting portion 64 .

Referring to FIG. 3 , the space between the retaining portions 66 and the base portion 61 and the space between the main supporting portion 62 and the base portion 61 together form a first folding area 67 . A space between the side supporting portion 64 and the main supporting portion 62 forms a second folding area 68 . A space between the side supporting portion 64 and the retaining portion 66 forms a third folding area 69 .

Also referring to FIG. 4 , to fold the case 100 to be a support, the retaining portions 66 and the main supporting portion 62 are folded toward the base portion 61 along the first folding area 67 . The two retaining portions 66 are positioned on the base portion 61 , bringing the side supporting portions 64 to rotate relative to the second and third folding areas 69 at the same time. At last, the side supporting portions 64 are perpendicular to the base portion 61 and the main supporting portion 62 . The main supporting portion 62 is at an angle θ with the base portion 61 .

Referring to FIG. 5 , the portable electronic device 200 is set on the case 100 as a support. On end of the portable electronic device 200 is locked in the slot 51 of the locking member 50 . The portable electronic device 200 is supported by the main supporting portions 62 and the side supporting portions 64 at an angle. Thus, users can comfortably view the display of the portable electronic device 200 .

Referring to FIG. 6 , after viewing the display of the device 200 , the closing piece 40 is opened to expose the opening 31 . The device 200 is inserted into the receiving space 120 of the case 100 via the opening 31 .

FIG. 7 shows another exemplary embodiment of a multifunctional case 100 . The structure of the case 300 is similar to case 100 except that a plurality of parallel bars 70 are protruding from the second layer 20 to replace the locking member 50 . The bars 70 are spaced from each other. Thus, users can select one of the bars 70 to resist the device 200 to select the angle for viewing the display.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.